Updated 12:04 am, Wednesday, December 5, 2012

The center, operated by Action for Bridgeport Community Development, has been closed since Monday because of safety concerns involving a roof replacement project at its building at George Pipkin's Way.

Johnson, 22, said she was at work in North Haven on Friday when she got a call from the center staff informing her that she had to pick up her son, Karon Prendergast, because the building would be closing early.

This week, she had to take days off because she has no one to watch her son, who will turn 2 later this month.

"I'm not going to be able to take too many days off because I'm going to lose my job," said Johnson, who works in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwestern Connecticut call center.

Charles Tisdale, executive director of ABCD, said Tuesday he understands parents' frustration, but the safety of the children comes first. "We're not going to leave any of our children in there until the work is finished," he said.

Tisdale said he is looking for sites to relocate the 300 children and more than 150 employees based at the East Side building. Because ABCD centers throughout the city receive state and federal funding, there are safety and staffing requirements that must be followed before any relocations can be made, he said.

Quality Roofing Services, of West Haven, began work on the roof Nov. 26.

Standing in front of the building Tuesday, project foreman Mike Peterson said there were no issues the first few days because the company shut down air conditioners and heater vents in the sections of the building they were working on so any fumes wouldn't reach the children. Despite their best efforts, though, a few windy days must have carried the fumes in through outside vents in other sections of the site, Peterson said.

Warren Blunt, the city's environmental health director, said his office received complaints from parents about the work early last week. After a health inspector assessed the situation, ABCD was told to either stop the roof work or evacuate the children. A follow-up letter was then sent to the organization expressing concern about the "potent fumes."

Blunt said his office wasn't even aware of the work because ABCD failed to alert them to the project or submit a contingency plan as required for any construction or renovation work in the city.

Peterson said his company is doing its best to get the work done, but the rainy weather Tuesday and expected rain Wednesday limit how quickly they can complete the job.

"We understand the inconvenience, but on days like this, you can't lay roof down," he said, glancing at the overcast sky.

Peterson said his crew is prepared to work through Saturday and expects to be done next week.

"These kids will hopefully be back in by midweek," he said, "depending on the weather."